Governor Godswill Akpabio has emphasised the need for the participants of the seventh edition of Joint Retreat between Commission, ECOWAS institutions, permanent representatives and national units holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital to foster economic re-integration among member states in the Sub-region.
Akpabio made the call Thursday when the President of Economic Community of West African States, Kadre’ De’sire’ Oue’draogo in company of ECOWAS Vice President, Dr. Toga McIntosh; the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremandu; President, Community Court of Justice, Hon. Justice Awa Daboya Nana, among others, paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Ofice, Uyo.
He recalled that Akwa Ibom had approached a Ghanaian company, R&G to train youths in the state on computer education and vocational skills as a means of empowering them.
The governor, however, informed them that the state government was constructing Tropicana Entertainment Centre which is on the 15th floor with an e-complaint ECOWAS hall for international conferences, and hoped by the time they will come again the hall mighjt have been ready for use.
Akpabio commended them for bringing the retreat to Uyo which, according to him, last year hosted international and national conferences that proffered solution to economic improvement, spiritual rejuvenation and security challenges in the country.
He advised them to go round the state and see the “uncommon transformation” of the state government. “You have come to Uyo to see. I want you to be ambassadors in spreading news about our development projects,” he said.
ECOWAS President lauded the hospitality and development strides of the state government, explaining that the retreat is to review ECOWAS programmes, discuss, prioritise and execute policies and programmes of the Heads of State in the sub-region.
Oue’draogo, who congratulated the governor on his emergence as the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, hoped the Uyo retreat would provide the inspiration in reaching their goals for the region.